Apparatus and method for inserting corner members in channel-shaped flanges of a duct

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for inserting a corner member into channel-shaped flanges of a duct. The corner member has first and second legs. The duct includes longitudinally extending duct panels. The channel-shaped flanges of the duct extend laterally from at least one end of the duct panels. The apparatus a corner member support mechanism adapted for supporting the corner member, a duct moving mechanism, and a pressing mechanism. The duct moving mechanism has a duct pusher moveable between a first position and a second position. The duct pusher imparts a moving force against the duct upon movement of the duct pusher from its first position to its second position. The duct moving mechanism moves the duct toward the corner member and to a position in which adjacent flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of the corner member upon movement of the duct pusher from its first position to its second position when the corner member is being supported by the corner member support mechanism and when the duct pusher is imparting the moving force against the duct. The pressing mechanism has at least one pressing member moveable between a non-pressing position and a pressing position. The pressing mechanism presses the corner member into the duct flanges upon movement of the pressing member from its non-pressing position to its pressing position when the flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of the corner member.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/139,613filed on Aug. 25, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,985.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for inserting cornermembers in channel-shaped flanges of a duct.

A typical sheet metal duct section of the type used in heating,ventilating, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC systems) is usuallysquare or rectangular in cross-sectional shape. Such a duct sectionusually has channel-shaped flanges extending outwardly from its endedges for end-to-end attachment to another duct section. Corner members(or angle plates) having first and second legs are inserted intoadjacent flanges of the duct in a manner so that the first leg is in oneflange and the second leg is in the other flange. The flanges are thencrimped to secure the corner members in the flanges. Each corner memberhas at least one aperture therethrough. When duct sections arepositioned end-to-end, then the corner member apertures of one ductsection align with the corner member apertures of the other ductsection. The aligned apertures are sized and configured for receivingthreaded fasteners (e.g., bolts and nuts) to clamp the duct sectionstogether.

Insertion of the corner members into the flanges is typically performedmanually. A technician places a corner member on the flanges, forces thecorner members into the channel-shaped flanges with a hammer or othersuitable tool such as pliers, and then manually crimps the flanges. Theprimary problems associated with such manual insertion are that thisoperation is labor intensive and time consuming.

Machines have been used to automatically remove a corner member from astack of corner members and insert it into duct flanges. With suchmachines, the duct is first clamped in a fixed position on the machine.A corner member is then removed from the stack, brought into engagementwith the duct, and pressed into the duct flanges. After the cornermember is pressed into the duct flanges, the machine crimps the flangesto retain the corner member in the flanges. A problem associated withsuch machines is that a user cannot determine whether a corner member ismis-fed from the stack (or not fed from the stack at all) until afterthe duct-crimping step is completed. This may result in damage to theduct and delays in the insertion process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted theprovision of improved apparatus and method for inserting corner membersin channel-shaped flanges of a duct; the provision of such apparatus andmethod which enables a user to minimize the chances that the flanges ofthe duct will be crimped without first properly positioning the duct andcorner members relative to one another, the provision of such apparatusand method which enables a user to visually verify that a corner memberand duct have been properly positioned relative to one another beforeattempting to press the corner member into the duct flanges; and theprovision of such apparatus which is of relatively simple construction.

Generally, apparatus of the present invention is configured forinserting a corner member into channel-shaped flanges of a duct. Thecorner member has first and second legs. The duct includeslongitudinally extending duct panels. The channel-shaped flanges of theduct extend laterally from at least one end of the duct panels. Theapparatus comprises a corner member support mechanism, a duct movingmechanism, and a pressing mechanism. The corner member support mechanismis adapted for supporting the corner member. The duct moving mechanismhas a duct pusher moveable between a first position and a secondposition. The duct pusher is adapted to impart a moving force againstthe duct upon movement of the duct pusher from its first position to itssecond position. The duct moving mechanism is adapted to move the ducttoward the corner member and to a position in which adjacent flanges ofthe duct are in registration with the legs of the corner member uponmovement of the duct pusher from its first position to its secondposition when the corner member is being supported by the corner membersupport mechanism and when the duct pusher is imparting the moving forceagainst the duct. The pressing mechanism has at least one pressingmember moveable between a non-pressing position and a pressing position.The pressing mechanism is adapted to press the corner member into theduct flanges upon movement of the pressing member from its non-pressingposition to its pressing position when the flanges of the duct are inregistration with the legs of the corner member.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of inserting acorner member into channel-shaped flanges of a duct. The corner memberhas first and second legs. The duct includes longitudinally extendingduct panels, the channel-shaped flanges of the duct extending laterallyfrom at least one end of the duct panels. The method comprisessupporting the corner member, moving the duct toward the corner memberand to a position in which adjacent flanges of the duct are inregistration with the legs of the corner member, and pressing the cornermember into the duct flanges.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointedout hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a fragmented side elevational view of a corner insertingapparatus of the present invention having a lower corner insertingmechanism and an upper corner inserting mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmented side elevational view of the lowercorner inserting mechanism of FIG. 1 with portions broken away to showdetail;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 3—3 of FIG. 2,showing a fragmented top plan view of the lower corner insertingmechanism of FIG. 1 with portions broken away to show detail;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented side-elevational view of the lower cornerinserting mechanism, in schematic form, the lower corner insertingmechanism including a crimper plate, a corner member pusher on thecrimper plate, and a press mechanism, a corner member being shownadjacent a forward end of the corner pusher member, the corner memberbeing positioned for receiving a duct flange;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 4 butshowing a duct positioned forward of the crimper plate;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 5 butshowing the duct moved rearward to a position in which part of theflanges of the duct are under the corner member and the crimper plate ispushed rearward by the duct;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 6 butshowing the duct moved rearward to a position in which flanges of theduct are in registration with the corner member;

FIG. 8 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 7 butshowing the duct moved rearward to effectuate pivoting movement of thepress mechanism to thereby press the corner member into the ductflanges;

FIG. 9 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 8 butshowing the duct moved rearward to a position to cause crimping of theduct flanges by the crimper member;

FIG. 10 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 9 butshowing the duct moved forward after insertion of the corner member inthe duct flanges, and the press mechanism pivoted to a non-pressingposition;

FIG. 11 is a fragmented side elevational view similar to FIG. 10 butshowing the duct removed from the lower corner inserting mechanism, thecrimper plate moved to a forward position, the corner member pushermoved to a rearward position, and a corner member placed onto thecrimper plate;

FIG. 12 is a fragmented side-elevational view of the upper cornerinserting mechanism, in schematic form, the upper corner insertingmechanism including a stationary plate, a crimper plate slidable on thestationary plate, and a press mechanism, a corner member being shown onthe stationary plate and adjacent a forward end of the crimper member;

FIG. 13 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 12 butshowing the crimper plate moved forward to position the corner member onthe press mechanism;

FIG. 14 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 13 butshowing a duct positioned so that part of its flanges are over thecrimper member;

FIG. 15 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 14 butshowing the duct moved rearward to a position in which the flanges ofthe duct are in registration with the corner member;

FIG. 16 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 15 butshowing the duct moved rearward to effectuate pivoting movement of thepress mechanism to thereby press the corner member into the ductflanges;

FIG. 17 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 16 butshowing the duct moved rearward to a position to cause crimping of theduct flanges by the crimper member; and

FIG. 18 is a fragmented side-elevational view similar to FIG. 17 butshowing the duct moved forward after insertion of the corner member inthe duct flanges, and the press mechanism pivoted to a non-pressingposition.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and first more particularly to FIGS. 1-3,a corner inserting apparatus of the present invention is indicated inits entirety by the reference numeral 30. The corner inserting apparatusis configured for removing a first corner member from a stack of cornermembers (sometimes referred to as angle plates), moving a duct so thatflanges of the duct are in registration with the corner member, pressingthe corner member into the duct flanges, and crimping the duct flangesto secure the corner member in the duct flanges. The duct, generallyindicated at 32, includes channel-shaped flanges 34 extending outwardlyfrom its upper and lower end edges for end-to-end attachment to anotherduct (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, the corner member, generallyindicated at 36, has a pair of angularly extending legs 38. Preferably,the legs 38 of the corner member 36 form a ninety-degree angle and aresized and configured for a snug fit in a pair of adjacent flanges 34 ofthe duct 32.

The corner inserting apparatus 30 includes a lower corner insertingmechanism, generally indicated at 40, and an upper corner insertingmechanism, generally indicated at 42. The lower corner insertingmechanism 40 is configured for inserting corner members 36 into thelower flanges of the duct 32. The upper corner inserting mechanism 42 isconfigured for inserting corner members into the upper flanges of theduct 32. The corner inserting apparatus 30 is configured so that theupper and lower corner inserting mechanisms operate at the same time tosimultaneously insert corner members into the upper and lower ductflanges. Preferably, the height of the upper corner inserting mechanism42 is adjustable relative to the lower corner inserting mechanism 40 sothat the corner inserting apparatus can accommodate ducts of diverselengths.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower corner inserting mechanism 40includes a corner dispensing mechanism, generally indicated at 44, fordispensing a corner member 36 from a stack of corner members, a crimperplate 46, a corner member pusher 48, a duct moving mechanism 50, a ductsquaring assembly 52, and a press mechanism 54. The corner dispensingmechanism 44 separates the bottom-most corner member from the othercorner members of the stack and drops it onto the crimper plate 46. Thecorner dispensing mechanism 44 is described in detail in co-pending andcommonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/801,062, filed Feb.17, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.

The duct squaring assembly 52 is generally adjacent the forward end ofthe crimper plate 46 and rides on horizontal rails 56 between a forwardposition (or left most position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and arearward position. It includes two diagonally-extending horizontal bars58 which extend outwardly from one another at a right angle (shown inFIG. 3) to form a duct receiving area, generally indicated at 60. A pairof small vertical plates 62 extend down from the diagonally extendingbars 58. The vertical plates 62 are positioned to stop forward movementof the corner member 36 on the crimper plate 46. As discussed in greaterdetail below, the corner member pusher 48 slides the corner member 36 onthe crimper plate 46 to a forward position in which the corner member islocated on an end margin of the crimper plate. The crimper plate 46 issupported by and slides on a generally flat, horizontal platform 64.

The duct moving mechanism 50 includes a horizontally moveable block 66,an inner duct-engaging member 68, an outer duct-engaging member 70, anda horizontally disposed linear actuator, such as a hydraulic actuator 72(FIG. 2). The horizontally moveable block 66 is shaped and sized to moveforward and rearward (left and right as viewed in FIG. 2) on an upperhorizontal surface 74 of a stationary support 76. The hydraulic actuator72 is configured to move the horizontally moveable block 66 linearlybetween a forward position (shown in FIG. 2) and a rearward position(not shown). The inner duct-engaging member 68 is connected to thehorizontally moveable block preferably by a parallelogram connection 78.The parallelogram connection 78 allows the inner duct-engaging member 68to move up and down relative to the horizontally moveable block 66without turning or tilting of the inner duct-engaging member relative tothe moveable block. Preferably, the forward end of the stationarysupport 76 has a sloped surface 80 engageable with a lower portion ofthe inner duct-engaging member 68. The sloped surface 80 acts as a rampto cam the inner duct-engaging member 68 upward as the hydraulicactuator 72 pulls the horizontally moveable block 66 rearwardly. Thus,the inner duct-engaging member 66 is moveable between a lowered position(shown in FIG. 2) and a raised position. When the inner duct-engagingmember 66 is in its lowered position, its upper-most surface is flushwith or spaced below the flat upper surface of the stationary platform64. When the inner duct-engaging member 66 is in its raised position,its upper-most surface is spaced above the flat upper surface of thestationary platform. Preferably, the stationary platform 64 has a slot82 (FIG. 3) therethrough for passage of the inner duct-engaging member68 as the hydraulic actuator 72 moves the horizontally moveable block 66between its forward and rearward positions. The outer duct-engagingmember 70 extends upwardly through the slot 82 and is fixed to andmoveable with the horizontally moveable block 66.

After the duct 32 (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is placed on thestationary platform 64 in the duct receiving area 60 of the ductsquaring assembly 52, the hydraulic actuator 72 is operated to pull thehorizontally moveable block 66 rearward (i.e., to the right as viewed inFIGS. 2 and 3). As the block 66 moves rearward, the inner duct-engagingmember 68 immediately moves to its raised position and engages an insidecorner of the duct 32 and linearly pushes the duct rearwardly along thesurface of the platform. As the duct moves rearwardly, it pushes againstthe duct squaring assembly 52. Thus, the duct squaring assembly 52 movesrearwardly with the duct. As will be discussed in greater detail below,the rearward movement of the duct causes the corner member 36 to bepressed into the duct flanges and then the duct flanges to be crimped.After the duct has been moved to its rearward most position, thehydraulic actuator 72 is operated to move the horizontally moveableblock 66 from its rearward position to its forward position. As theblock 66 moves forward, the outer duct-engaging member 70 engages theduct to push the duct to its forward-most position.

The crimper plate 46 is supported by and slides on the upper surface ofthe stationary platform 64. The crimper plate 46 is moveable between aforward position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and a rearward position. Thecrimper plate 46 is preferably moveable from its rearward position toits forward position via a suitable linear actuator, such as a pneumaticactuator 84. Preferably, the pneumatic actuator 84 is not secured to thecrimper plate 46. Thus, retraction of the actuator 84 does not result inrearward movement of the crimper plate. Rather, as will be discussed ingreater detail below, the crimper plate 46 is moved from its forwardposition to its rearward position via movement of the duct from itsforward position to its rearward position. The corner member pusher 48is moveable between a rearward position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and aforward position via a suitable linear actuator, such as a pneumaticactuator 86. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the cornerpusher member 48 pushes a corner member to a forward position and holdsthe corner member in its forward position as the flange of the duct isbrought into engagement with the corner member.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-11, the press mechanism 54 of the lower cornerinserting mechanism 40 includes right and left pressers (see FIG. 3),generally indicated at 90, 92. The right presser 90 includes a hanger 94and a shoe 96. The upper end of the hanger 94 is pivotally attached to astationary member of the lower corner inserting mechanism 40 for pivotalmovement of the hanger about a horizontal axis 98 (see FIG. 3). As shownin FIGS. 4-11, the horizontal axis 98 lies in a stationary verticalreference plane R₁. The shoe 96 is pivotally attached at 100 to thelower end of the hanger 94. The left presser 90 includes a hanger 102and a shoe 104. The upper end of the hanger 102 of the left presser 92is pivotally attached to a stationary member of the lower cornerinserting mechanism 40 for pivotal movement of the hanger about ahorizontal pivot axis 106 (see FIG. 3). The shoe 104 is pivotallyattached to the lower end of the hanger 102. Each presser 90, 92includes a spring 108 and is pivotally moveable about its pivot axisbetween a forward (up), non-pressing position (shown in FIGS. 4-7, 10and 11) and a rearward (down), pressing position (shown in FIG. 9). Theshoes 96, 104 are in their up positions when the hangers 94, 102 are intheir forward positions and are in their down positions when the hangersare pivoted to their rearward positions. Thus, each shoe 96, 104 movesalong an arcuate path as it moves between its up and down positions. Thesprings 108 are configured to bias the pressers 90, 92 in their forward(up), non-pressing positions. The bias of the springs 108 cause theshoes 96, 104 to press against the vertical plates 62 of the ductsquaring assembly 52 to thereby urge the duct squaring assembly to itsforward position.

In FIG. 4, the corner member 36 is held between a forward end of thecorner member pusher 48 and the vertical plate 62 of the duct squaringassembly 52. In the lower corner inserting mechanism 40, the cornermember pusher 48 and the upper surface of the crimper plate 46constitute a corner member support mechanism for supporting the cornermember. The inner duct-engaging member 68 of the duct moving mechanism50 is positioned in its lowered, forward-most position with its uppersurface being generally flush with the upper surface of the platform 64.With the corner member 36 so positioned, a duct 32 is placed on thestationary platform 64 as shown in FIG. 5 and in the duct receiving areaof the duct squaring assembly. The duct moving mechanism 50 is thenoperated to move the inner duct-engaging member 68 to its raisedposition so that the duct-engaging member is in position to push theduct rearward. In FIG. 5, the inner duct-engaging member 68 (alsoreferred to as a duct pusher) is in a first position (e.g., a forward,raised position). The duct moving mechanism 50 is then operated to pushthe duct 32 rearward.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, as the duct 32 is moved rearward, theduct flanges force the crimper plate 46 rearward and the duct flangespass under the vertical plates 62 and under the corner member 36 untilthe flanges are in registration with the corner member and the body ofthe duct engages the vertical plates. In FIG. 7, the position of theinner duct-engaging member (duct pusher) 68 is a second position. Thus,the duct pusher 68 imparts a moving force against the duct 32 uponmovement of the duct pusher from its first position (FIG. 5) to itssecond position (FIG. 7) to move the duct to a position in whichadjacent flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of thecorner member 36.

As shown in FIG. 8, further rearward movement of the duct 32 by thepusher member 68 moves the duct squaring assembly 52 rearward so thatthe vertical plate 62 pushes against the presser 90 to cause the presserto pivot about the pivot axis 98 toward its rearward pressing position.Movement of the presser 90 toward its pressing position forces thecorner member 36 downward into the flanges of the duct 32. As the shoes96, 104 simultaneously move from their up positions to their downpositions, they press the corner member 36 into the channel-shaped ductflanges. The vertical plates 62 of the duct squaring assembly 52 engageforward edges of the shoes 96, 104 to maintain the undersides of theshoes in a horizontal orientation as the shoes are moved from their uppositions to their down positions to thereby prevent tilting of thecorner member 36 as it is pressed into the duct flanges. In FIG. 8, theposition of the inner duct-engaging member (duct pusher) 68 is a thirdposition. Thus, movement of the duct presser 68 from its second positionto its third position causes movement of the shoes (i.e., pressingmembers) 96, 104 from their raised, non-pressing position to theirlowered, pressing position. Preferably, a stop member (not shown) isprovided for preventing rearward movement of the crimper plate 46 beyondthe position shown in FIG. 8. The crimper plate 46 has a forward edgeshaped to receive the flanges of the duct. Accordingly, further rearwardmovement of the duct 32 to its rearward-most position (shown in FIG. 9),forces the rearward edges of the duct flanges against the forward edgeof the crimper plate 46 in a manner which crimps the flanges to securethe corner member 36 in the flanges. In FIG. 9, the position of the ductpusher 68 is a fourth position and the crimper plate 46 remainsstationary as the duct pusher 68 is moved from its third position to itsfourth position. Thus, movement of the duct pusher 68 from its thirdposition to its fourth position causes the flanges of the duct to becrimped by the forward end of the crimper plate 46.

As described herein, it is to be understood that movement of the ductpusher 68 between any of its first, second, third, and fourth positionsis along a straight line. It is also to be understood that in operation,the duct pusher 68 is moved from its first position (FIG. 5) to itsfourth position (FIG. 9) in a continuous manner, i.e., without stopping.

After the flanges are crimped, the hydraulic actuator 72 of the ductmoving mechanism 50 is operated to push the block 66 (FIG. 2) forward sothat the outer duct-engaging member 70 pushes the duct 32 forward asshown in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 11, the duct 32 is then removed fromthe stationary platform 64, the crimper plate 46 is moved to its forwardposition, the corner member pusher 48 is moved to its rearward position,and the corner dispensing mechanism 44 (FIG. 2) dispenses another cornermember 36 onto the crimper plate and forward of the corner memberpusher. The corner member 36 is then pushed to its forward positionshown in FIG. 4 and waits for another duct to be placed on thestationary platform 64 and moved into engagement with the corner member.Thus, the corner inserting procedure is repeated for each pair ofadjacent flanges of the duct.

The upper corner inserting mechanism 42 is not shown in detail. However,it is to be understood that the upper corner inserting mechanism 42operates in a manner similar to the lower corner inserting mechanism 40.These mechanisms are different because the upper mechanism 42 must pressa corner member upward into upper duct flanges while the lower mechanismmust press a corner member downward into lower duct flanges. Similar tothe lower mechanism 40, the upper mechanism 42 includes a cornerdispensing mechanism 120 (FIG. 1), a crimper plate 122 (FIGS. 12-18), aduct moving mechanism, a duct squaring assembly and a press mechanism.The corner dispensing mechanism 120 separates the bottom-most cornermember 124 from the other corner members of the stack and drops it ontoa stationary plate 126 which supports the crimper plate 122. FIG. 12shows the corner member 124 positioned on the stationary plate 126. Toassist in the understanding of the relative motions of the variousparts, a stationary, vertical reference plane R₂ is included in FIGS.12-18. The reference plane R₂ passes through the pivot axis of the rightpresser.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the crimper plate 122 is then moved forwardvia a suitable linear actuator (not shown) to slide the corner member124 to a forward position in which the corner member is located on shoes128 of the upper mechanism's press mechanism. Vertical plates 130 of theduct squaring assembly prevent the corner member 124 from overshootingthe shoes 128 as the corner member is moved to its forward position(i.e., the position shown in FIG. 13). A duct pusher 132 of the uppermechanism's duct moving mechanism is moveable via a suitable linearactuator (preferably a hydraulic actuator, not shown) between forwardand rearward positions.

The press mechanism of the upper mechanism 42 operates in the samemanner as the press mechanism 54 of the lower mechanism 40. As a duct 32is placed on the corner inserting apparatus 30 and moved rearwardly bythe lower and upper duct pushers 68, 132, the upper flanges of the ductare moved into registration with the legs of the corner member 124 asshown in FIG. 15. Further rearward movement of the duct 32 by the ductpushers 68, 132 from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the position shownin FIG. 16 causes the shoes 128 to move along an arcuate path to pressthe corner member 124 into the upper flanges. Rearward movement of theduct 32 by the duct pushers 68, 132 from the position shown in FIG. 16to the position shown in FIG. 17 causes the upper flanges to be crimpedby the forward edge of the crimper plate 122. After crimping iscompleted, the duct moving mechanisms are operated push the duct 32forward as shown in FIG. 18. Thus, the upper mechanism 42 inserts cornermembers into the upper flanges at the same time the lower mechanism 40inserts corner members into the lower flanges.

In operation, corner members 36, 124 dispensed from the cornerdispensing mechanisms of the lower and upper inserting mechanisms 40, 42are moved to forward positions before a duct is positioned on the cornerinserting apparatus 30. Because the corner members 36, 124 are moved toforward positions before a duct is placed on the apparatus 30, theoperator can visually verify that the corner members are properlypositioned. If the corner members are not properly moved to theirforward positions, the operator can fix or reload the apparatus 30before placing the duct 32 on the apparatus. After the operator visuallyverifies that the corner members are properly positioned, he/she thenpicks up the duct 32 and places it on the platform 64. Next, theoperator operates the duct moving mechanisms via a suitable controller(not shown) to move the duct pushers 68, 132 rearward so that the ductpushers push the duct 32 rearwardly. After the duct 32 is moved to aposition in which the flanges are in registration with the cornermembers 36, 124, further rearward movement of the duct causes the shoesof the press mechanisms to pivot rearwardly and thereby press the cornermembers into the duct flanges. Further rearward movement of the ductcauses the duct flanges to push against the now stationary crimperplates 46, 122 and thereby be crimped by the crimper plates. Thealigning, pressing and crimping steps are performed as the duct pushers68, 132 move in a continuous manner from their forward positions (FIGS.5 and 13) to their rearward positions (FIGS. 9 and 17). Interestingly,because the duct squaring mechanisms, pressing mechanisms and crimperplates do not rely on separate actuators to enable them to perform theirintended functions, they do not move from their forward-most positionsupon rearward movement of the duct pushers unless a duct is firstproperly positioned on the apparatus 30. When the duct pushers 68, 132reach their rearward positions, the hydraulic actuators are operated bythe controller to return the duct pushers to their forward positions. Asthe duct pushers are moved to their forward positions, the outerduct-engaging members of the duct moving mechanisms move the duct 32 toa forward position. The duct 32 is then removed from the cornerinserting apparatus with corner members secured in the lower and upperduct flanges. The controller then operates the corner dispensingmechanism and the linear actuators corresponding to both the crimperplates and the corner member pushers to move new corner members toforward positions to receive new duct flanges

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methodswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for inserting a corner member intochannel-shaped flanges of a duct, the corner member having first andsecond legs, the duct including longitudinally extending duct panels,the channel-shaped flanges of the duct extending laterally from at leastone end of the duct panels, each channel-shaped flange defining a cornermember receiving region sized for receiving one of the legs of thecorner member, the apparatus comprising: a corner member supportmechanism adapted for supporting the corner member; a duct movingmechanism having a duct pusher moveable between a first position and asecond position, the duct pusher being adapted to impart a moving forceagainst the duct upon movement of the duct pusher from its firstposition to its second position, the duct moving mechanism being adaptedto move the duct toward the corner member and to a position in whichadjacent flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of thecorner member such that the legs of the corner member are superposedwith the corner member receiving regions of the adjacent flanges uponmovement of the duct pusher from its first position to its secondposition when the corner member is being supported by the corner membersupport mechanism and when the duct pusher is imparting the moving forceagainst the duct; and a pressing mechanism having at least one pressingmember moveable between a non-pressing position and a pressing position,the pressing mechanism being adapted to press the corner member into theduct flanges upon movement of the pressing member from its non-pressingposition to its pressing position when the flanges of the duct are inregistration with the legs of the corner member.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the duct pusher of the duct moving mechanism is furthermoveable between the second position and a third position, the ductmoving mechanism and the pressing mechanism being adapted so thatmovement of the duct pusher from the second position to the thirdposition causes movement of the pressing member from its non-pressingposition to its pressing position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 whereinthe duct moving mechanism and the pressing mechanism are adapted so thatmovement of the duct pusher from its second position to its thirdposition drives the pressing member from its non-pressing position toits pressing position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ductmoving mechanism and the pressing mechanism are adapted so that movementof the duct pusher from its second position to its third positionimparts a motive force to the pressing mechanism via the duct to movethe pressing member from its non-pressing position to its pressingposition.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the duct pusher of theduct moving mechanism is further moveable between the third position anda fourth position to further move the duct, the apparatus furthercomprising a crimping member, the duct moving mechanism and the crimpingmember being adapted so that movement of the duct by way of movement ofthe duct pusher from the third position to the fourth position causesthe flanges of the duct to be crimped by the crimping member.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 5 wherein the duct moving mechanism is configured andadapted to push the duct toward the crimping member after the pressingmechanism presses the corner member into the duct flanges.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein the apparatus is configured and adapted tomaintain the crimping member in a fixed position while the duct movingmechanism moves the duct pusher from its third position to its fourthposition.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the duct moving mechanismis configured so that movement of the duct pusher between any of itsfirst, second, third, and fourth positions is along a straight line. 9.The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second position of the duct pusheris between the first and third positions, and wherein the movingmechanism is adapted for moving the duct pusher from its first positionto its third position in a continuous manner.
 10. The apparatus of claim2 wherein the duct moving mechanism is configured so that movement ofthe duct pusher between any of its first, second and third positions isalong a straight line.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressingmechanism is adapted so that the pressing member traverses an arcuatepath as the pressing member is moved between its non-pressing andpressing positions.
 12. An apparatus for inserting a corner member intochannel-shaped flanges of a duct, the corner member having first andsecond legs, the duct including longitudinally extending duct panels,the channel-shaped flanges of the duct extending laterally from at leastone end of the duct panels, each channel-shaped flange defining a cornermember receiving region sized for receiving one of the legs of thecorner member, the apparatus comprising: a corner member supportmechanism adapted for supporting the corner member; a duct movingmechanism having a duct pusher moveable between a first position and asecond position, the duct pusher being adapted to impart a moving forceagainst the duct upon movement of the duct pusher from its firstposition to its second position, the duct moving mechanism being adaptedto move the duct toward the corner member and to a position in whichadjacent flanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of thecorner member such that the legs of the corner member are superposedwith the corner member receiving regions of the adjacent flanges uponmovement of the duct pusher from its first position to its secondposition when the corner member is being supported by the corner membersupport mechanism and when the duct pusher is imparting the moving forceagainst the duct; and a pressing mechanism having at least one pressingmember moveable between a non-pressing position and a pressing position,the pressing mechanism being adapted to simultaneously press the cornermember into the adjacent duct flanges upon movement of the pressingmember from its non-pressing position to its pressing position when theflanges of the duct are in registration with the legs of the cornermember.